3 h. ago Why Japan just tested a missile on its own turf for the first time

The distant thunder of a missile launch from Hokkaido late last month was less a provocation than a statement of intent: marking a turning point, analysts say, in Japan’s approach to its own defence. On June 24, more than 300 members of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force’s 1st Artillery Brigade gathered at a remote firing range for the country’s first-ever live missile test from home soil. It saw a Type-88 surface-to-ship missile being launched towards an unmanned vessel parked 40km (25 miles)...

Events

5 h. ago Trump wants to ground China’s drones – but have they flown too high to reach?

US President Donald Trump issues quite a few executive orders. So many, in fact, that one could be forgiven for not keeping up with them all. But amid the rapid-fire policy changes that have come to characterise his administration, one arrived last month that could have drastic implications for the world’s drone market – and China’s role in it. The order, signed June 6, requires government agencies to prioritise using home-grown unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) “to the maximum extent permitted by...

Politics

13 h. ago Thailand, Japan, China, Malaysia, and more Ignite Asia’s Explosive Rise as The Ultimate Winter Long

Thailand, Japan, China, Malaysia, and more Ignite Asia’s Explosive Rise as The Ultimate Winter Long-Haul Escape for German Tourists Through TUI’s Bold, Expansive Travel Program  Travel And Tour World

Events

14 h. ago Donald Trump says US and China will hold talks on TikTok deal early next week

US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his interest in visiting China and announced that talks between Beijing and Washington were set to start early next week on a possible TikTok deal that could determine the future of the popular video-sharing platform. The fate of TikTok, which faces a potential ban in the US over national security concerns, has long been a sticking point in US-China relations. Under a law passed by the US Congress last year, ByteDance Ltd, the Beijing-based parent company...

Politics

14 h. ago Trump says US and China will hold talks on TikTok deal early next week

US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his interest in visiting China, while announcing that bilateral talks are set to start early next week on a possible TikTok deal that could determine the future of the popular video-sharing platform. The fate of TikTok, which faces a potential ban in the US over national security concerns, has long been a sticking point in US-China relations. Under a law passed by the US Congress last year, ByteDance Ltd, the Beijing-based parent company of the social...

Politics

20 h. ago ‘Risk is very real’: Malaysia’s Anwar gambles on petrol subsidy cuts

Expertly switching between woks as he whips up appam, the coconut and rice batter pancakes that draw morning commuters to his roadside stall in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, Raj Kumar harbours anxieties that simmer away beneath the calm: petrol subsidy cuts are looming and prices may soon rise again. At 44, Raj feels every shift in Malaysia’s rising cost of living – both in the prices he pays for ingredients and the rueful faces of his customers. “Our suppliers raised prices after diesel subsidies were...

Events

21 h. ago Hongkongers forge ahead with Japan travel amid July 5 ‘megaquake’ fears

Some Hongkongers have pressed ahead with trips to Japan on Saturday morning despite “slight worries” about a widely discussed prediction that a mega-earthquake will hit the country today. While travellers told the Post they would pay more attention to the local news, they acknowledged being unprepared for potential earthquakes. “I felt a little uncomfortable at first, but my son and his wife already got the tickets. It is summer vacation for my grandson, so we seized the chance,” said Ho...

Politics

21 h. ago Chinese man caught in wig disguise trying to take exam for woman escapes

A bizarre case of academic fraud has sent shock waves through the Chinese online community, as an impostor was caught red-handed cross-dressing as a woman – complete with a wig and face mask – in an attempt to take an exam on behalf of another student. The scandal came to light on June 24 when a Chinese netizen revealed that a male student from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in Wuhan, Hubei province, had attempted to impersonate a woman to take an exam at a public venue. According to...

Events

23 h. ago Is Taiwan’s Lai rewriting ROC history ahead of WWII anniversary?

As Taiwan prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, controversy is hanging over the administration of Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te as it faces criticism over its handling of the Republic of China’s (ROC) wartime legacy. The Lai government has used commemorations under the theme “Resist Aggression, Protect the Homeland” to warn retired ranking officers – many affiliated with the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) – not to attend Beijing’s September 3 military...

Events

25 h. ago South Korea, Japan step up as US targets China’s shipbuilding – can they succeed?

As the United States vows to curb China’s dominance in shipbuilding – despite its domestic capacity being nearly nonexistent – South Korea and Japan are looking to benefit from the rivalry and reclaim their competitive edge. South Korea’s president, Lee Jae-myung, who took office a month ago, campaigned on supporting the industry – which he described as being “in major crisis”. “Shipbuilding has been a core industry driving Korea’s exports and creating jobs,” he said in a social media post on...

Events

35 h. ago Russia damages Chinese consulate in Odesa as Chinese drone parts found in Kyiv following similar attack

Russia damages Chinese consulate in Odesa as Chinese drone parts found in Kyiv following similar attack  The Kyiv Independent

Events

36 h. ago Is Japanese manga ‘megaquake’ possible on July 5 or have Hongkongers lost plot?

The plot of a Japanese manga has played a big role in fuelling online rumours about a “megaquake” striking Japan on Saturday, triggering fear among some Hongkongers and a decline in interest in trips to the country, a hugely popular destination for residents. But are the claims made by the comic book artist, based on her dreams, possible? The Post has gathered expert opinions to debunk the speculation. 1. Why have concerns about megaquakes arisen? The Japan Meteorological Agency last August...

Politics

39 h. ago PM’s suspension reignites debate on ‘judicial activism’ of Thailand’s courts

The suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has reignited debate over the Constitutional Court’s growing influence in Thailand’s democratic system, amid concerns electoral mandates risk being curtailed by judicial and conservative power centres. While the court’s decision on Tuesday to suspend Paetongtarn over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen was framed as a procedural response to an ethics complaint, observers say it fits into a broader trend of...

Events

40 h. ago Kuala Lumpur’s Aerotrain suffers double trouble after US$100 million relaunch

Malaysia’s long-delayed Aerotrain at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has suffered fresh embarrassment after experiencing two service disruptions within three days, just a week after its US$100 million relaunch and a test ride by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The most recent incident occurred on Friday morning, when a flooded tunnel forced Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to temporarily halt the 1.2km (0.75 miles) rail service linking the main terminal to its international...

Economics

41 h. ago China TV host faces criticism for serving men drumsticks, women wings, exposes bias

A renowned Chinese TV host ignited a heated online controversy after openly expressing her preference for boys over girls and presenting drumsticks to two young men instead of a young woman during a show. Zhu Dan bizarrely justified it by stating that “boys need more nutrition to grow.” Zhu, 44, hailing from Zhejiang province in eastern China, is celebrated for her work on popular TV programmes like Do You Remember and The X Factor. She is a mother to a daughter and a son with her husband, actor...

Culture

42 h. ago Sri Lankan man caught at Thai airport with 3 snakes in his underwear

A Sri Lankan man has been arrested at an airport in Thailand after allegedly trying to smuggle three snakes out of the country by concealing them in his underwear. The man was stopped at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday after a body search revealed three ball pythons, stored in net bags, hidden on his person. The suspect, identified only as Shehan, was apprehended by the Thailand Wildlife Enforcement Network (WEN), authorities said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Authorities received...

Events

45 h. ago Ties that unbind: will the Philippines finally embrace divorce?

Philippine lawmakers have refiled a long-delayed bill legalising divorce in the country just a few days into the new Congress after its passage fell short in the previous term, with divorce advocates hopeful that the legislation will finally see the light of day. Lawmakers have been trying to pass a divorce law since 2005, but continue to face resistance in the Catholic-majority country. Nearly 79 per cent of Filipinos are Roman Catholic and the Philippines and the Vatican are the only countries...

Sport

45 h. ago ‘A national crisis’: why Philippines is still struggling to legalise divorce

Philippine lawmakers have refiled a long-delayed bill legalising divorce in the country just a few days into the new Congress after its passage fell short in the previous term, with divorce advocates hopeful that the legislation will finally see the light of day. Lawmakers have been trying to pass a divorce law since 2005, but continue to face resistance in the Catholic-majority country. Nearly 79 per cent of Filipinos are Roman Catholic and the Philippines and the Vatican are the only countries...

Events

47 h. ago Cochlear takes fast lane as it brings new hearing device to Chinese market

With a growing number of Chinese affected by hearing loss, an Australian implant maker is leveraging the special medical tourism zone in Hainan to provide faster access to its latest device. Cochlear introduced its new smart system in China in June, making the country one of the first global markets to launch the technology – through Hainan, the southern island province, and Hong Kong. Introducing it via the Boao Lecheng international medical tourism pilot zone has meant patients can receive...

Politics

49 h. ago Heading to Japan? How Hongkongers can prepare amid earthquake concerns

Recent rumours about a “megaquake” hitting Japan on July 5, stemming from a manga artist whose earlier prediction in 2011 reportedly came true, have caused some concern among Hong Kong residents planning to travel to the country this month. While Japanese authorities have dismissed the claims, stating that earthquakes cannot be predicted with current scientific knowledge and can occur anywhere at any time, even outside Japan, the Post has gathered expert advice for travellers on how to cope...

Politics